Based on an original recipe for one of Germany's earliest pilsners crafted by Josef Munz, Fürstenberg's brewmaster at the time, Black Forest Pils presents beautifully in the glass with a bright golden hue and a voluminous, lasting head of white foam. The next thing we noticed is what this pils does best: expressive hops. There's a very vivid and inviting noble hop aroma here that's the hallmark of fresh and authentic German pilsners. Look for undertones of grass and earth, with a bolder herbal and floral spice character that comes across like an exotic herbal potpourri with touches of tea, aromatic wood, coriander, and pink peppercorn. On the palate, this pils comes across smooth and balanced. Simple crackery malts hold up those bright, expressive hops which thankfully come through with as much robustness on the palate as they do in the bold aroma. Hop bitterness is moderate, lingering in the crisp finish with a touch of herbal zest that dries the palate while beckoning us to take another sip. This excellent German Pilsner is a delight on its own on a warm summer's day, but it's food-friendly, as well. Spicy pizzas and calzones would be among our favorite pairings, along with grilled bratwurst with brown mustard. Prost!

Fürstenberg Brewery (Donaueschingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Like so many of our featured German breweries, the Fürstenberg Brewery can trace its history back a long, long way—to medieval times, in fact. The story begins in 1283 when King Rudolf I von Habsburg granted the lands of Baar and Tunôeschingen (which is now known as Donaueschingen) to Count Heinrich I von Fürstenberg, a grant which included the right to establish breweries and tax beer production. The town of Donaueschingen is located in the Black Forest, and is famous as the source of the Danube River. Records dating back to 1575 show three beer-selling proprietors in the town, all of whom paid beer taxes to the Fürstenbergs.

In 1739, a new brewery was built in Donaueschingen, which became the brewery we know as Fürstenberg today (it's been at the same location since that time). Over the next century, Fürstenberg grew into an important regional brewer whose products were exported to other countries for the first time thanks to the advent of local rail lines in 1868. One of the most important events in Fürstenberg's history occurred in 1884 when brewmaster Josef Munz joined the Fürstenberg team. One of his first new beers, a Vienna-style lager, was named by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck as his favorite drink. In 1895, Munz became one of the first German brewers to brew pilsner, and it won high praise from Kaiser Wilhelm II when he visited Donaueschingen in 1900 and declared the brew to be his go-to drink of choice, for which the beer earned the title of “His Majesty’s Beverage.”

By 1900, Fürstenberg was available in over 900 locations across Germany and saw export to several other European countries, and even featured among the beverages available on the era's ritzy zeppelins, which represented the era's most cutting-edge method of travel. These days, Fürstenberg remains true to its roots, having sourced only local ingredients since the turn of the nineteenth century, and relying on their own spring for the incredibly soft water that central Europe is known for, which contributes to the production of world-class pilsner and other lager beers. This month, we're excited to bring you one of this historic brewery's excellent beers, their exceptional Black Forest Pils. For more information on the brewery, visit www.fuerstenberg-beer.com. Enjoy! Prost!

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